BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY (DAY 107)

The morning temperature in Danville, Illinois when I woke up was 15° - a perfect day to return to the elliptical machine for the second day in a row, after not working an elliptical machine for more than a year.

Oh boy, did I fall off the wagon yesterday.
Ate far too much.
All I have to do is stop it.

Did I really 'need' the popcorn that I bought when I went to see 'Bohemian Rhapsody?'
I did walk over to the theatre from my Baymont Hotel in Litchfield, Illinois.
I don't think the theatre was more than 300 steps away.

The movie was very good. The actors that played the band members of Queen - looked like their counterparts. What a great reminder about how great Queen music is.  Turns out, I don't need to be reminded... I have liked Queen for a very long time.

2018

On the last day of 2017 I thought I might take an urban hike. When I woke up, the temperature was about 3°F so I chose to wait awhile before venturing outdoors. It would have been crazy to go outside when it was so cold, right? So I waited until around noon when the temperature had soared to 10°F. My hike took me to the beautiful Chicago lakefront. Although the skies were a deep blue in every direction, oddly enough the lakefront was not very crowded. I thought that I would see signs of the lake beginning to freeze near the shoreline, but it has not (yet). As the temperatures will not exceed freezing (32°F) for the ten days (at least) the lake may look a bit different next weekend. The new year is going help dispel the notion of global warming. We could use a little global warming right about now. Happy New Year.

Your Food Diary For:

Sunday, December 31, 2017

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Special K Chewy Nut Bars (Cranberry Almond)	450	60	18	9	180	36
Essential Everyday Butter Flavored Grits	500	105	5	10	1,700	5
Kirkland Bacon	200	0	15	15	875	0
	1,150	165	38	34	2,755	41
L U N C H
Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich	700	55	31	17	286	31
	700	55	31	17	286	31
D I N N E R
Rotisserie Chicken	510	3	33	45	1,860	3
Baked Beans	250	43	1	3	313	6
	760	46	34	48	2,173	9
French Baguette	450	90	3	15	1,110	3
Brie Cheese	300	0	27	12	360	0
	750	90	30	27	1,470	3
Totals	3,360	356	133	126	6,684	84
Your Daily Goal	2,968	371	99	149	2,300	111
Remaining	-392	15	-34	23	-4,384	27
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
	*You've earned 1,038 extra calories from exercise today

.

I FORGOT TO REMEMBER TO FORGET

Sure, our society is in a slow steady decline (That's bad.)

My weight, however, is also in a slow steady decline. (That's good.)

Even this week, when I had prepared myself for a negative result, that is, a weight gain, I lost an additional 1.4 lbs. You see, during the past week, which included three nights in Houston, I forgot to remember to forget to log all the 'bar snacks' I was freely munching on while hanging with my colleagues. I only had three adult beverages during my entire Houston excursion, but I might have had many hundreds of calories of chips, nuts, whatever else a bar sticks into a bowl of free thirst inducing snacks. I knew that I 'might' have neglected to account for all of those calories. Apparently, my exercise during the past week was able to erase much of these indulgences. Just like I forgot to remember to forget to include the extra Halloween Candy that floats around this time of year - usually available at all kinds of retail stores.

Nevertheless, the new weight for me today is 235.4 lbs

Considering the fact that my stupidity allowed me to reach 263.3 lbs on August 26, just ten weeks ago, I have every reason to be happy about my progress.

Regarding the slow steady decline in our society... That is not going to be so easy to reverse.

Your Food Diary For:

Friday, November 3, 2017

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Colby & Monterey Jack cheese	240	0	21	15	390	0
Grits	300	66	5	6	930	3
	540	66	26	21	1,320	3
L U N C H
Read - 3 Bean Salad	300	65	0	5	1,500	40
Taco Bell - Hard Shell Taco, 2	340	24	20	16	620	2
	640	89	20	21	2,120	42
D I N N E R
Spicy Salmon Maki Sushi	300	33	13	12	238	0
	300	33	13	12	238	0
S N A C K S
Chocolate Coconut Clusters	500	44	39	6	28	39
	500	44	39	6	28	39
Totals	1,980	232	98	60	3,706	84
Your Daily Goal	3,298	412	110	165	2,300	123
Remaining	1,318	180	12	105	-1,406	39
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
	*You've earned 1,368 extra calories from exercise today

If every day were like today...   You'd weigh 210.7 lbs in 5 weeks     

.

.

.

WHAT A GAME!

While I have been busy with my tradeshow in Houston, a rather exciting World Series has been taking place in the city. Game 5, with the series tied 2-2 took place on Sunday night (and into early Monday morning!) There was no possible way to turn off the TV and go to sleep as long as Houston and Los Angeles were playing one of the most high scoring games in World Series history. The game finally ended early Monday morning with the Astros on top,  13-12 in the bottom of the 10th inning after five hours and seventeen minutes.  What a game!

HOUSTON, TX - OCTOBER 29: Jose Altuve #27 and Yuli Gurriel #10 of the Houston Astros celebrate after a two-run home run by Carlos Correa #1 (not pictured) during the seventh inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in game five of the 2017 World Series at Minute Maid Park on October 29, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

My Sunday (which ended early Monday morning) when the World Series Game 5 finally concluded, started with a 10 mile urban hike in Houston, at 5:15AM

Your Food Diary For:

Sunday, October 29, 2017

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Zico - Natural Coconut Water, 16.9 fluid oz	90	22	0	0	110	19
Einstein Bros - Asiago Cheese Bagel w/Cream Cheese	500	67	20	19	866	8
	590	89	20	19	976	27
L U N C H
Hot Dog With Bun, 2 hot dog with bun	580	46	33	20	1,820	6
	580	46	33	20	1,820	6
D I N N E R
Chicken Tortilla Soup	300	24	12	24	640	3
Atlantic Salmon	300	1	16	39	182	0
	600	25	28	63	822	3
S N A C K S
Haagen-dazs Chocolate and Vanilla Ice Cream	280	21	20	4	40	20
Tim Tam Salted Caramel & Vanilla, 5.39 biscuit	500	61	26	4	0	42
	780	82	46	8	40	62
Totals	2,550	242	127	110	3,658	98
Your Daily Goal	3,717	464	124	186	2,300	139
Remaining	1,167	222	-3	76	-1,358	41
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
	*You've earned 1,787 extra calories from exercise today

If every day were like today...   You'd weigh 213.5 lbs in 5 weeks     

POLAR VORTEX ON THE WAY

It does appear that the return of the Polar Vortex is once again assured. On Thursday morning it was a  'toasty warm' 20°F which only seems toasty compared to what Chicagoans can expect next week. I did walk just three miles in the morning, but 18mph winds made the cold much more uncomfortable as I could easily have used extra layer on protection on my legs.

.

.

Your Food Diary For:

Thursday, December 8, 2016

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Essential Everyday - Butter Flavored Grits, 6 Packet	600	126	6	12	2,040	6
	600	126	6	12	2,040	6
L U N C H
Great Grains - Raisins Dates Pecans Cereal	1,050	205	20	20	675	65
	1,050	205	20	20	675	65
D I N N E R
Johnsonville - Polish Kielbasa Smoked Sausage	340	4	30	14	1,140	2
Homemade - Buttered Cabbage	150	6	14	2	119	4
Ritter Sport - Coconut (Noix De Coco)	550	45	40	8	75	45
	1,040	55	84	24	1,334	51
S N A C K S
FRESH THYME - DARK COCOA MELTING WAFERS, 109 g (1/3 cup)	600	65	35	8	123	57
	600	65	35	8	123	57
Totals	3,290	451	145	64	4,172	179
Your Daily Goal	3,747	468	125	188	2,300	140
Remaining	457	17	-20	124	-1,872	-39
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
	*You've earned 1,817 extra calories from exercise today

.

Your Exercise Diary for:

Thursday, December 8, 2016

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
3 mile urban hike	83	507
Elliptical Trainer	60	637
Elliptical Trainer	60	673
Daily Total / Goal	203 / 30	1,817 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	714 / 210	7,151 / 4,130

.

.

.

THIS RECORD WILL NEVER BE BROKEN

'This record will never be broken.'
That was said of the record of Roger Maris who belted 61 homers in 1961.

That record was broken (although it required steroids to make it happen)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

It was long thought that Babe Ruth's record of 714 lifetime homers would never be broken.
That record was first broken by Hank Aaron (and he needed no steroids to do it!)

I tell you this because I set a record that I know that I will never break.

On April 2, my brother in New York gave me a gourmet chocolate bar.   Back in April I was just beginning to increase my caloric intake from 1000 calories per day.  Since then, I have eaten (mostly good food) with near-reckless abandon.  My daily calorie consumption has averaged closer to 3000 calories per day.  For the past few months I have been eating chocolate (mostly from the bulk section at various supermarkets).  Even small doses can quickly add up to 300, 400, 500 or more calories.  This has not been my most intelligent part of my new lifestyle.   For more than four months,  I have known that this gourmet chocolate bar was available and as a matter of principle I did not eat it.   Since I realized that I have added far worse things to my daily diet - it was time to savor this gourmet treat.  I did enjoy this 'Raw Chocolate Love' bar in the late morning yesterday.   It got me to thinking that I should cut out some of the poorer choices that I have been making and perhaps concentrate on enjoying healthier treats.  That's the plan.  Yesterday at Whole Foods I purchased some other brands of gourmet chocolate that I plan to enjoy instead of my snacks from the bulk section that can easily add up to 1000 calories.   I think it might make more sense to focus on and savor and enjoy one treat that might be 500 calories, as long as I remember to limit myself to just one of these on any given day.  I have not eaten any of the new gourmet chocolate bars that I purchased - although I am fairly confident that I will do so long before four months elapse.

For four months, a RAW CHOCOLATE LOVE bar was in my refrigerator and I did not eat it.  After four months, I decided that it was time to enjoy it.  FOUR MONTHS IN THE FRIDGE.
THAT IS A RECORD THAT WILL NEVER BE BROKEN (not by me, ever)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~  

 Saturday MENU

breakfast  turkey bacon, raw chocolate bar                                  270 calories
lunch        CHABAD HOUSE SHABBAT KIDDUSH MEAL  1500 calories
                 (cold cut sandwiches, tomato salad, kugel, bourbon)
dinner       MARIANO'S HUGE SALAD                                     750 calories

total calories consumed 2520 calories

calories burned

YMCA PRECOR elliptical machine 103 minutes              1303  calories

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

SATURDAY NET CALORIES 1217 CALORIES

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~  

For the second time in the past three days, I was the last person to leave the YMCA.   Late Thursday night after 11:00PM, I was practically locked in - I had to bang on a door before security 'rescued' me.  I did not know that the YMCA closes early at 7PM on Saturday nights.  I was nearing the end of my workout when a security guard told me to wrap it up at 7:10PM.  At least this time I wasn't locked in the place.  However, I did not get to complete my anticipated two hour workout... My workout ended at 103 minutes.   In my youth, it was common for me to 'close' a bar at night - at least then, the bartender shouted out 'last call.'   No one shouts out 'last call' at the YMCA.

FITBIT DAY 3
My fitbit recorded that I exceeded 16000 steps.  

WORKOUTS ARE CHALLENGING AND FUN AGAIN

It snowed all day on Sunday.  When the snow in Chicago finally stopped on Sunday night, it was reported that we had accumulations of 19 inches.   It was said to be the fifth biggest storm in Chicago history.  My daughter was happy as her school was closed due to weather for the third time this winter.  The cartoon below indicates that the obesity epidemic is widespread. A couple of sunny days when the temperature rises above freezing will solve the snowman's problems.  Most of us will have to work a little bit harder get into shape.

A few warm days, and this snowman will no longer be obese.  Most of us are not so lucky.

For a few weeks I had been simply 'walking' on a treadmill. In order to amuse myself while I was 'walking' I was watching a myriad of TV shows in the fitness room.  I hardly watch any TV at all in the home - so this was not very compelling entertainment.   It was even worse when I got up to the fitness room and someone was already watching something even more boring that what I would have selected.

Just two days ago I started using the elliptical and this is now my exercise machine of choice.  On Sunday my exercise routine got a jolt when I made a terrific purchase at the Micro Center computer store. BLUETOOTH HEADPHONES. (no wires)  I am a guy who owns more than 10,000 songs.  I have about half of them loaded right on my iPhone. I have had some past experience with wired headphones while working out and I always managed to swing my hand into the wire and crash my iPod onto the floor. This can no longer happen. I have been having great fun creating playlists and listening to artists that I have not heard in ages. With 10,000 songs in my arsenal it will take me a very long time to re-discover all of my own music.

This is the single most important device for me to enjoy my workouts: BLUETOOTH HEADPHONES

The reason that I am enjoying my workouts so much now is that I am finding the elliptical machine very challenging.   I still have not gained enough stamina to spend more than 30 minutes on the machine.  When I can, I am working out for 30 minutes at the crack of dawn, and 30 minutes more before or right after dinner.   In just three days, I have noticed a slight improvement which shows up as calories 'burned.'   When that last 5 or 10 minutes arrives and I feel like I am floundering, a great rock song can perk me up to get to the finish line.  Eventually, I will hope to increase my time, my speed, the levels of resistance and ultimately the number of calories burned.   The elliptical machine is low (or no) impact.  I am really enjoying this new exercise.   The workouts are very challenging and the music makes it fun.

MONDAY MENU

breakfast 3 poached eggs, two slices turkey 'bacon'                                                 280 CALORIES

lunch       3 oz Salmon filet, iceberg lettuce, balsamic vinaigrette, pumpkin soup     302 CALORIES

dinner      8 oz seafood blend, baby spinach w/balsamic vinaigrette, Potato bisque  337 CALORIES

total calories 919 CALORIES

calories burned

6AM   elliptical 30 minutes       350 calories

6PM    elliptical 30 minutes       360 calories

total calories burned 710 calories

NET CALORIES 209 CALORIES

Seafood Blend on a bed of baby spinach with balsamic vinaigrette dressing, Potato Bisque Soup  337 CALORIES